Former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Keir Starmer says he will put his name forward to stand as a Labour parliamentary candidate.

The human rights lawyer said he will seek selection in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency if the party does not run an all-woman shortlist.

Sir Keir was strongly tipped to fight the seat after former Cabinet minister Frank Dobson last week announced he would stand down at the 2015 general election.

He told the New Journal: "It would be an honour for anyone to succeed Frank Dobson. It will now be for the party to agree the process and timetable but if it is an open shortlist I intend to seek selection from members of Holborn and St Pancras, my home for over 15 years.

"Our constituency needs an MP who will continue Frank's principled campaigning, fight to get the Tories out of power and be able to influence a future Labour government. I believe I can bring my experience as a human rights lawyer, DPP and campaigner to do that. I am only too aware of the impact that politics has on the daily lives of all of us."

Sir Keir said he had rec eived "strong support" for his candidacy from local party members and a number of leading figures, including former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips, Labour peers Baroness (Helena) Kennedy and Baroness (Joan) Bakewell and former Cabinet minister Dame Tessa Jowell.

"I am also grateful to have trade union support from Aslef," he added.